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Chicago Transit Board Approves Bus Service Enhancements

October 18, 2006

10/18/06

The Chicago Transit Board today permanently adopted midday and weekend service hours on the #X80 Irving Park Express and approved a 180-day experiment that will modify the #37 Sedgwick route and combine it with the#11 Lincoln route to create the #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick route.

Permanent status for the #X80 and adjustments to the #37 and #11 result directly from CTA monitoring and evaluation of route performance and customer feedback .

?The service enhancements approved today are designed to meet the needs of current CTA customers as well as attract new customers to the convenience and affordability of public transportation," said Chicago Transit Board Chairman Carole Brown. ?Both changes will help increase ridership and reduce traffic congestion."

The midday and weekend hours on the #X80 Irving Park Express route become permanent as ridership during these hours has continued to improve since the midday and weekend services were implemented. The express route provides customers who wish to travel between the lakefront and the Red, Brown and Blue lines with more travel options. July weekday ridership shows an increase of 22 percent from last year; Saturday ridership increased by 17 percent and Sunday/holiday ridership increase 52 percent.

Midday service on the #X80 operates from approximately 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with weekend service operating from approximately9 a.m. to 7 p.m. making limited stops on Irving Park between the Irving Park Blue Line station and Lake Shore Drive.

The Board also approved changes to the #37 Sedgwick and the #11 Lincoln. The CTA is combining the routes to operate as the #11 Lincoln/Sedgwick to better serve customers? travel needs because the two routes parallel each other along substantial portions of the route.

Customers of the new #11 Lincoln / Sedgwick route will benefit from the combined service areas of the current routes, offering extended service north of Fullerton for current #37 customers and extended service south of North Avenue during peak hours for current #11 customers.

Additionally, during peak hours the new #11 will extend west along Van Buren from Franklin to Clinton to create a direct connection to the #38 Ogden/Taylor, for service to the West Side and the Illinois Medical District.

CTA will operate the new #11 Lincoln / Sedgwick as a 180-day experiment, which will begin in December. With the creation of the new #11 route, CTA will eliminate the current#37 Sedgwick.

?Our customers have demonstrated to us through increased ridership along these routes that our planning efforts make a difference. We will continue to monitor our service and look for ways to make travel easier and more convenient for our customers," said CTA President Frank Kruesi.

The #37 Sedgwick service was modified as part of the West Side/West Suburban Service Enhancements in June. As part of the original 180-day experiment, the route was given a new south terminal at Congress and Wells and a new route?the #38 Odgen/Taylor?was created to provide service west of downtown previously provided by the then #37Sedgwick/Ogden in order to increase connections and provide faster service to customers.

For new service hours and route information on all CTA service customers can call 836-7000 from any local area code or visit CTA's web site at www.transitchicago.com.